Land and Water: Indigenous Land-Based Education Program
Land and Water is an Indigenous land-based education program that brings together Indigenous UM students and community youth. By engaging with Knowledge Keepers and Elders the participants will have the opportunity to learn in immersive, land-based environments and build stronger relationships with like-minded community. Participants in the program will learn how to respectfully interact with the land and our teachers, while gaining skills and knowledge of a unique theme that can later be applied in their everyday lives.
The 2026-2027 theme will be focused on exploring plants and medicines.
Overview
Who is this for: All Indigenous youth (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis), Indigenous students, staff, faculty, alumni, and Indigenous community. Affiliation with the University of Manitoba is not required to participate.
How to join: Complete the online application form to participate in cohort or drop-in programming. Applications are open in September.
To increase accessibility, there are two ways to engage with the Land and Water Program:
Cohort:
- Open to Indigenous UM students and community youth of varying backgrounds (Two-Spirit, gender diverse, disabled, neurodivergent, low-income, women and feminine identifying individuals, people who are reconnecting, etc.). Up to 10 spots will be held for UM alumni and Indigenous youth (18+) who are not enrolled at UM but deserve accessible opportunities to learn on and from the land.
- Monthly cohort-only events, such as conversation circles, presentations, or workshops.
- Access to optional drop-in programming.
- Opportunities for community building and travel around and outside Winnipeg.
Drop-in:
- Open to all Indigenous identifying individuals (staff, faculty, students, community, Global Indigenous).
- Monthly programming opportunities (excluding December and February).
- Opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and explore land-based learning.
I'm not Indigenous. Can I participate?
Cohort programming is only open to Indigenous people from Turtle Island (North America). Drop-in programming is open to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth, as well as Indigenous youth from around the world (global Indigenous).
We have separate Walk and Talk programming that is open to everyone, including non-Indigenous people. Contact landandwater@umanitoba.ca for more information on Walk and Talks.
I missed the application deadline. Can I still apply?
Yes, please reach out to the program coordinator at landandwater@umanitoba.ca after submitting the application form.
Schedule
Land and Water hosts two monthly events from October to April: one open only to yearlong cohort participants, and the other open to any First Nations, Métis, Inuit or global Indigenous community members.
Cohort:
- Applications to participate in the cohort are open from September 1-29.
- Monthly cohort-only events will be scheduled based on participant availability at the start of October.
Drop-in:
- Monthly events will be promoted via email and social media.
- Registration will open at least one week before the event, and will hold your spot and guarantee supplies.
What to expect
Participants can expect physical hands-on workshops, sit-down learning and storytelling sessions with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and teachers, off-campus trips, sharing experiences with others, engaging in relational learning, thinking critically about typical Western views of land, and building connection and a strong sense of community with each other while on the land.
Critical reflections related to event and program themes will be built into all events. Participants will reflect on what and how they are learning, and their connections and responsibilities to the theme. Each event will conclude with a debrief. Participants will be encouraged to attend all events throughout the year to learn from a variety of teachers, build on past knowledge and spent time immersed on the land.
Cohort program:
- Cohort participants commit to attending a minimum of one monthly event from October to April.
- All participants benefit from community-building and receive gifts and equipment to take home from events.
- If you complete the program, you will also receive Land and Water clothing and recognition on your Experience Record.
Does it cost money?
No, participating in the Land and Water Program is free! We understand that cost can be a barrier to some cultural opportunities and try out best to ensure that this program is as accessible as possible.
A peek at past programming
The Land and Water program is different every year! Programming and activities take participant interests into account, as well as an annual theme. Past in-person and virtual programming has included:
Past themes:
- Climate Change and Land-Based Ways of Life
- Queering Land-Based Education
- A Seasonal Lens
- Building Relationships with Waterways and Relatives with Fins
- Wildlife and Storytelling
Previous events:
- Fish filleting
- Drum and rattle making
- Feather dressing
- Traditional cooking (bannock, 3 sisters soup, moose stew, pemmican)
- Traditional art (beading, mocasin-making, painting, texture stamping, weaving, natural dyes)
- Hide-tanning
- Day-trips (Shoal Lake #40 First Nation, Fort Whyte Alive)
- And much more...
Our teachers and partners:
This program benefits from the guidance and involvement of dedicated Elders and Knowledge Keepers, such as Charlotte Nolin, Barbara Bruce, Albert McLeod, and others.
Other Elders, Indigenous organizations, Knowledge Carriers, artists and cultural teachers have also led past and future programming, including:
- Onizhishi Aandeg: Indigenous Wildlife Project.
- Erin Konmso (Métis fisher, artist, and scholar).
- Elders Darren and Rosie Kitchemonia.
- Kristen McKay (2 Spirit Anishinaabe singer, artist, and harvester).
- Vanessa Lillie (Cree Métis Director of Cultural Integration [Indigenous], teacher, student, mother, sister, auntie).
- Two-Spirits Talking.
- 2 Spirit Manitoba/2 Spirit Sundance.
- Scaabe School: Oskâpêwis Training Program.
- Maamawoo Anishinaabemodaa Baamaa (Anishinaabemowin learning program).
- Elder Audrey Logan (Indigenous foodways) and others.
- Knowledge carriers Jenna Vandal (plant identification), Taylor Galvin (land-based educator), and Justin L'Arrivee (historical perspectives)
- Language teachers Quinton Delorme (Cree, n dialect), Carol Beaulieu (Anishinaabemowin), and others (Michif).
Program staff
Emma "Em" Tardiff-Breen is the Indigenous Land-based Programs Coordinator. They are a Two-Spirit, Red River Métchif educator, student and helper. Em is in their 4th year at the U of M doing a major in Biology and a minor in Anthropology, with a focus on traditional relationships with wildlife and land. They are passionate about creating safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces for Indigenous voices in science.
Eden "Mitzii" Spring is the student program assistant for Land and Water. She has Saulteaux (Anishinaabe, Treaty 2) and Dutch/Russian Mennonite heritage. She was raised in West End Winnipeg with frequent visits to the Interlake and rural Southeast Manitoba. Mitzii is enrolled in the University of Manitoba's School of Art, pursuing their B.F.A.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact landandwater@umanitoba.ca.